Pitcher



1949 J. c. PROCTER 9 PITCHER Filed Nov. 22 1946 3 Sheets-'Sheet 1 INl/ENTOR, JAMEs' C. PROCTER,

LBY wfdm Dec. 6, 1949 J. c. PROCTER PITCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22, 1946 INVENTOR, JAMEs C. PROCTER,

flTTOR'NEY.

Dec. 6, 1949 J. c. PROCTER v PITCHER Filed Nov. 22, 1946 s Sfieets-Sheet 3 -i /4, I I

INVENTOR,

James C PROCTER, :BYMQMm firemen i Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a pitcher of that type wherein a divided shell is employed to open up and receive a standard bottle such as is commonly employed for use in the dispensing of milk. The invention has for a primary object the provision of such a structure wherein the bottle may be readily placed and removed from the shell and yet be held very securely therein when in use. A further primary object of the invention is to provide'a structure wherein the milk bottle itself is completely concealed with the exception of the pouring rim, and any condensation which may flow from the bottle such as generally occurs after taking the bottle and contents from a refrigerator will be received and confined within the container so that the bottle may be lifted and the contents poured therefrom simply by gripping the handle of the container and pouring in the manner of a pitcher.

A still further primary object of the invention is to provide bottle engaging and holding means of such nature that the bottle, upon being started into that means, will practically shift and seat itself into the holding position and then that position be maintained by a portion of the shell carrying means elastically holding the bottle in that position, all without any use of hand manipulated latches, bolts, or screws and the like. Furthermore, the bottle is maintained in an inclined position with the carrying handle uppermost and to one side to facilitate ease of lifting pouring from the bottle.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illusrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a view in side elevation and partial section of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in top plan and partial section;

Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4, a transverse section on the line 44 in cross section, and of that type now commonly employed asa milk bottle. Obviously, the sections may be made in different sizes to accommodate either the pint size or quart size of such a bottle.

In the form herein shown, the back section III has mounted therein a bottle carrying bracket I3 from the lower end of which is forwardly turned substantially at right angles to a back strap I4 a foot I5 of such area as to equal half or more that of the under side of the bottle I2. Spaced upwardly from the foot I5, the strap I4 carries two spring arms I6 and I! of such shape and length that when the bottle i2 is positioned on the foot I5 and against the strap I 4, these arms I6 and I! will extend from the strap It in I foot I 5 as to straddle the neck portion of the bottle I2 and extend around to substantially the central transverse plane of the bottle. These fingers I8 and I9 are also of an elastic nature so that they may be yieldingly spread apart and then returned to their normal spacing apart which is, at their outer ends, less than the diameter of the neck portion of the bottle I2 with which bottle portion they contact.

This bracket I3 thus described is secured along the inner side of the back shell section It by any suitable means, herein shown as by means of e which are carried through spacers 22 and 23, through the section wall and screws 28 and 2| into screw-threaded engagement with the upper and lower ends respectively of a handle 24.

Secured to the foot I5 is a hinge 25 in turn secured to a bracket 26 that is carried by the floor 2? of the forward shell section I I, Fig. l and 3. The bracket 26 is proportioned to support the foot I5 in the position indicated in Fig. 1, when the forward shell section I I is carried into closed v The forrelationship with the rear section II). Ward section I I has a base 28 extending under the floor 2? in the present showing to support the entire assembly above described in both the open and closed conditions of the shell. The forward shell section I i is made to completely enclose the forward side of the bottle I2 and preferably hasan off-set lip 29 to telescope within the forward edges of the rear shell section III. The two sections l and H are so designed, particularly in relation to their line of division, that the heel of the section l0 may telescope over the outside of an upturned portion 31 of the section ll, Fig. 5, so that the rear section liJ may be pulled around relatively from the forward section :5 to brace it in that position whereby the bottle I 2 when seated on the bracket is, will be in a substantially vertical position, and further backward swinging of the section In is stopped by reason of a rear portion of the foot l5 coming into abutment with the upper marginal edge of the portion 3i. The upper forward portion of the shell section II is formed to engage closely around the forward side of the neck of the bottle l2 to complete encirclement thereof in cooperation with the upper end of the back section [0 so that when the two sections are closed together, a

circular opening is formed in the shell, the margin of which opening is in substantial contact entirely around the neck of the bottle l2. Also this marginal edge is under the pouring lip 32 of the bottle l2.

In the upper portion of the forward section l I, there is mounted a U-shaped clip 33 to extend rearwardly and have its spaced apart arms 84 and elastically engage over the outer faces of the fingers l8 and I9 by sliding contact when the casing sections [0 and II are closed together. In other words, the arms 34 and 35 are of sufficient length to extend past the transverse central plane of the bottle l2-andlap over on the outer sides of those fingers l8 and. I9. Thus, not only do the fingers l8 and against'the bottle l2,.but. the arms 34 and 35 come around on the outside of those fingers to increase the pressure againstthe bottle, and also serve as means to yieldingly retain thesection l I closed against the section It).

As indicated in the drawings; the combined sections I 0 and ll, whenclosed, form not only a utilitarian function, but also have an artistic efiect, the sections lending themselves to further ornamentation is so desired although their contours give a very pleasing effect.

As indicated in Fig. 5, to remove and replace the bottle l2, the section [9 is pulled relatively rearwardly to the vertical position to give space between the upper portions of those two sections for passage therebetween of the bottle; Assuming that the bottle 12 is to be inserted in the casing, it is lowered down into the space between the two sections Ill and H to have the lower end of the bottle directed between the arms l6 and ll whereupon the rear bottom corner of the bottle will strike against the forward face of the then vertical bracket strap it. Slight pressure downwardly of the bottle l2 will cause those straps to spring apart by reason of the forward face and corners of the bottle l2 bearing against the opposing forward ends of the arms l6 and I1 springing them apart. Pressure of the bottle downwardly causes the upper end of the bottle to tend to swing rearwardly until the neck portion entersbetween the fingers l8 and I9. This action is practically automatic in view of the spring tension of the arms H3 and I1 tending to grip the bottle l2 by their forward opposing ends as the bottle slips downwardly between the arms. Then the handle 2 is gripped and the section It is pushed forwardly into closed position against the section I l to carry the arms 34 and 35 yieldingly over the fingers I8 and I9 to retain the closed position. Also by reason of the fact that 19 bear compressively the bottle I2 is then in an inclined position, the section 58 tends to swing closed against the section ll under the influence of gravity. The section il, in any event, is preferably made out of some light metal so that its overall weight is relatively small in comparison to the combined weight of the bottle l2 and the rear section II) and the parts secured thereto whereby there is practically no tendency for the part lltoswing away from the part ID. The handle 24 may be clasped and the contents of the bottle l2 poured out the same as though a pitcher were being employed without the removable container.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that mechanical variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A two part pitcher housing for removably carrying a liquid container bottle, comprising a forward housing shell having a base, and side and front walls merging one into the other, the. rear edge portions of said sidewalls being inciined from the lower portions thereof forwardly and upwardly; a rear housing shell closure section engaging with said rear wall edge portions; a bracket secured within said rear section; a base extending from said bracket substantially normally to said edge portions and extending downwardly within said forward shell; hinge means within said forward shell interconnecting said bracket base and said forward shell base; means for locating andmaintaining the lower end of said bottle on said bracket base; a pair of elastic fingers carried by the upper end portion of said rear closure section located to engage laterally around the neck of said bottle when rested on said section base, as a means for retaining the bottle in a relatively fixed position to rock with said rear section; the upper end por tions of said forward shell and of said rear section defining by complementary margins, a hole through which the mouth end of said bottle may extend, said margins being substantially in contact with said bottle; and a pair of spaced elastic fingers carried by said forward shell to engage laterally around the neck of said bottle to retain the forward shell closed against the rear section.

2. A two part pitcher housing for removably carrying a liquid container bottle, comprising a forward housing shell having a base, and side and front walls merging one into the other, the rear edge portions of said side walls being inclined from the lower portions thereof forwardly and upwardly; a rear housing shell closure section engaging with said rear wall edge portions; a bracket secured within said rear section; a base extending from said bracket substantially normally to said edge portions and extending downwardly within said forward shell; hinge means within said forward shell interconnecting said bracket base and said forward shell base; means for locating and maintaining the lower end of said bottle on said bracket base; a pair of elastic fingers carried by the upper end portion of said rear closure section located to engage laterally around the neck of said bottle when rested on said section base, as a means for retaining the bottle in a relatively fixed position to rock with said rear section; the upper end portions of said forward shell and of said rear section defining b'y' complementary margins, a

5 hole through which the mouth end of said bottle may extend, said margins being substantially in contact with said bottle; and a pair of spaced elastic fingers carried by said forward shell to engage laterally around the neck of said bottle to retain the forward shell closed against the rear section; said lower bottle end locating means consisting of a pair of elastic fingers spaced above and substantially parallel to said base, between which fingers said bottle may be pressed; said forward shell fingers having that length and being located to override the forward end portions of said rear shell upper end fingers.

JAMES C. PROCTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

